Encouragementhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=taxonomy/term/90/all
enHelp! My Teen Refuses to Do Her School Work!http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/help-my-teen-refuses-do-her-school-work
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/sm%20blg%20sz%20-%20Help%20-%20My%20Teen%20Refuses%20to%20Do%20His%20School%20Work%20-%20Diane%20Kummer%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" /></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As I field questions from homeschool moms who are seeking my advice, one question comes up rather frequently. &ldquo;My teen refuses to do her course work. What can I do?&rdquo; I&rsquo;d like to share 5 suggestions from my experience as a consultant and former homeschool mom.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 21:54:42 +0000diane2055 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsA Journey Worth Starting | Introducing Amy Koons to the Blog!http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/journey-worth-starting-introducing-amy-koons-blog
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Amy%20Koons%20INTRO%20Post%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20(sm).jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" /></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hi, I&#39;m Amy Koons. It&#39;s great to join the HSLDA blogging community! I look forward to posting here and hopefully hearing back from many of you as we share in the rewarding, and definitely never dull, experience of homeschooling our children.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 13:00:00 +0000Amy Koons2035 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsHomeschooling Through Hard Timeshttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/homeschooling-through-hard-times
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/tree-decorations-511716_640.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 148px; float: left;" /><em>Breathe. Try to keep calm. Claim and walk out the Scripture promise from Isaiah 26:3,&nbsp;<strong>&quot;You will keep him in perfect peace, he whose mind is stayed (or fixed) on You, because He trusts in You.&quot;&nbsp;</strong></em>The past couple of months have not been easy for me&mdash;life (and thus homeschooling) has been broadsided by broken appliances, family sickness, a loved one hospitalized, a car accident, relative visits, and did I forget to mention the holidays and all the preparations that those entail?</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 19 Dec 2014 18:25:47 +0000faith1845 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThe Price is Right: Free Online Math and Economic Resourceshttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/price-right-free-online-math-and-economic-resources
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/The%20Price%20is%20Right%20-%20Free%20Online%20Math%20and%20Economic%20Resources%20-%20Carol%20Becker%20-%20HSLDA%20BLOG.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" />Because homeschooling families are always conscious of keeping curriculum costs down, many will benefit from two new free resources now being offered online by college trained professors.</p>
<p>Dr. Jeff Haymond, a professor of economics at Cedarville University, has authored a free online textbook,&nbsp;&nbsp;<em><a href="http://christianeconbook.com/">No Free Lunch: Economics for a Fallen World</a>.&nbsp;</em>This introductory economics textbook investigates the free market system from a Christian worldview.</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:00:16 +0000Carol1817 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsShowcasing Interests, Abilities, and Activitieshttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/showcasing-interests-abilities-and-activities
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/phil%204%208.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 135px; float: left;" />As I look back on my homeschooling years, it amazes me just how God directed our path. In my son&rsquo;s 8<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;grade year, I wanted to prepare him to attend the public high school, so I signed him up for two outside classes. As my husband had played on his high school basketball team, he knew how important this could be for our son, so we also signed up our teen for winter basketball, which a local homeschool organization offered. Our son enjoyed being part of the team, and this pleased my husband. &nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 18 Aug 2014 22:23:58 +0000Carol1804 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThink Pretty (Part 2)http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/think-pretty-part-2-2
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Think%20Pretty%20(Part%202%20of%202)%20-%20Jeane%20and%20Megan%20Hendrix%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20--.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 143px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>We&#39;re picking up this week with the second part of Think Pretty. Check out&nbsp;<a href="http://tinyurl.com/ThinkPretty1">part 1 of Think Pretty</a>&nbsp;from a few weeks ago.</p>
<p><em>Three strategies to preserve your brain:&nbsp;</em>According to the Alzheimer&rsquo;s Association, there are six main strategies to preserve your brain, and below are the first three. (Of course, these are most effective when done together.) I will address the other three in a future blog post.</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:02:44 +0000Jeane and Megan Hendrix1803 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThink Pretty (Part 1)http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/think-pretty-part-1
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Think%20Pretty%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20-%20Jeane%20Hendrix%20(sm).png" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>When I was a&nbsp;little&nbsp;girl, my mom used to tell me&nbsp;each morning as I headed off to school:&nbsp;&ldquo;Think Pretty.&rdquo;&nbsp;As I became older, I came to&nbsp;understand that she meant that I should think about lovely things: the good - not the bad, the beautiful - not the ugly. That I should look for the&nbsp;&ldquo;pretty&rdquo; in each and every day.&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 07 Aug 2014 19:44:39 +0000Jeane and Megan Hendrix1805 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsWhat being a Homeschooling Widow has Taught Mehttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/what-being-homeschooling-widow-has-taught-me
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/broken%20down%20house.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" />In 2012 (two and a half years after my husband Chris passed away), I shared what being a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/homeschooling-widow" target="_blank">homeschooling widow</a>&nbsp;is like&mdash;that feeling of being alone when you need practical help around the home, missing that listening ear (which so often our husbands gave us, along with their prayers and encouragement), and desperately wanting at times the stabilizing presence of a father in the lives of your children (we KNOW we can&rsquo;t be a mom AND a dad, no matter how hard we try!).</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:26:16 +0000tracy1775 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThe Pilot & The Passengers, Part IIhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/pilot-passengers-part-ii
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/The%20Pilot%20%26%20The%20Passengers%20Part%20II%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 150px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>As typical&nbsp;six-year-old&nbsp;girls, my twin sister and I&nbsp;bobbed up and down like&nbsp;little jumping beans while&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/pilot-passengers-part-1">we&nbsp;watched&nbsp;the Stinson gracefully&nbsp;touch down</a>&nbsp;on the runway. &quot;Never mind the plane. You stay right here, and don&#39;t walk through that door!&quot; Ms. P cackled with her eyes fixed on our every move.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:47:08 +0000mgaver1789 at http://www.hslda.org/cms Celebrate Independence Dayhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/celebrate-independence-day
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Celebrate%20Independence%20Day%20(sm)%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog.jpeg.png" style="width: 210px; height: 141px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>What are your plans for July 4th? A back-yard cook-out or picnic? Fireworks? Well, whatever your family does this Independence Day, I encourage you to talk to your kids about what this holiday is really all about. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 02 Jul 2014 14:42:29 +0000mgaver1791 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThe Pilot & The Passengers, Part 1http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/pilot-passengers-part-1
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/The%20Pilot%20and%20The%20Passengers%20-%20Part%201%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20(sm).png" style="width: 210px; height: 136px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>I grew&nbsp;up in the sprawling Maryland&nbsp;suburbs outside of Washington, D.C., and as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/good-communication">a pilot&#39;s daughter</a>, we spent many Saturdays flying.&nbsp;I still think that my dad wanted to give my mom a much needed&nbsp;break on Saturday mornings, and that&#39;s why he faithfully loaded all five of us kids into the endlessly long&nbsp;Dodge station wagon for an entire morning of flying and hanging out at&nbsp;the airport...</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 25 Jun 2014 19:46:15 +0000mgaver1782 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsCongratulations As You Wrap Up Another Yearhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/congratulations-you-wrap-another-year
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Congratulations%20As%20You%20Wrap%20Up%20Another%20Year%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20-(1).png" style="width: 210px; height: 145px; float: left;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>To all of you who are finished (or almost finished) homeschooling for the year&nbsp;&minus;&nbsp;congratulations!&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/congratulations-all-homeschooling-moms-summers-here">Way to go for homeschooling your kids</a>! Way to go for teaching,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/order-house">managing</a>,&nbsp;coordinating, and nurturing! You&#39;ve made it through May.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 21 May 2014 21:16:45 +0000mgaver1769 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsA Reward For Hard Workhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/reward-hard-work
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/A%20Reward%20For%20Hard%20Work%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog.png" style="width: 210px; height: 145px; float: left;" />Today, I sit in our old school room (a spare bedroom that we converted twelve years ago) which is now my office. Office? Do offices have old rock collections, all levels of textbooks, and NASA pictures all around? Okay,&nbsp;I&#39;m in the process of changing it.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I reach into the depths of the closet to retrieve my day-planner from our first year homeschooling&nbsp;&minus;&nbsp;2001. I open it and see&nbsp;<strong>Friday 3/8</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Mon, 19 May 2014 17:28:34 +0000mgaver1396 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsBuild Your Child's Creativityhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/build-your-childs-creativity
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/Build%20Your%20Childs%20Creativity%20-%20MaryAnn%20Gaver%20-%20HSLDA%20Blog%20(sm).png" style="width: 210px; height: 128px; float: left;" />It was a great brainstorming session for&nbsp;young elementary kids. After lunch,&nbsp;we opened a few cans of Play-Doh,&nbsp;and began to twirl&nbsp;and knead a few colors as we&nbsp;discussed some ideas on how to best reach out to our new neighbors.&nbsp;After that interchange,&nbsp;we challenged ourselves to&nbsp;name as many varieties of birds that we could think of in&nbsp;forty seconds. And after that, we&nbsp;settled in for a history lesson and our own made-up&nbsp;&quot;globe game&quot; for geography...&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 16 May 2014 20:24:20 +0000mgaver1444 at http://www.hslda.org/cmsThoughts on Being a Motherhttp://www.hslda.org/cms/?q=blog/thoughts-being-mother
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img alt="" src="/cms/sites/default/files/images/B%2C%20I%20love%20who%20you%20have%20become.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 140px; float: left;" />I know not everyone likes celebrating Mother&#39;s Day. Some of our own childhoods were punctuated by pain and brokenness. While my experience with my birth father was like this, I&#39;m thankful to have a mom who loved me and laid down her life for me in so many ways.</p>
<p>If you are a homeschooling mother who looks to the Lord each day to fulfill her calling, you are making a difference for good in the life of your child! Don&#39;t look at your failures; look at God&#39;s faithfulness...</p>
</div></div></div>Fri, 09 May 2014 19:39:02 +0000tracy1762 at http://www.hslda.org/cms